Sealing closure



June 9, 1953 L. E. E. GOSSNER 2,641,037

SEALING CLSURE Filed April 24, 1950 ATTORNEYS Patented June 9, 1953 SEALING CLOSURE Louis Ernest Elwin Gossner, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Treg, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a

corporation of California Application April 24, 1950, Serial No. 157,748

This invention pertains to improved sealing strip means for gas and liquid tight closure of the double slide fastener type, adapted to be used on waterproof garments or as closure means for gas or liquid containers or for other analogous purposes where it is desired to close a container, garment or other structure in such fashion as to prevent the ingress or egress of water or other fluids.

A primary object of the invention is to provide improved sealing strip means which will at all times maintain a fluid tight connection with each other when the slide fastener or outer closure means have been joined.

Various types of double slide fastener closures have been suggested, to the art in the past but have proved to be unfeasible due to separation of the sealing means when twisted or distorted. Prior patents in this field are illustrated by Hutchins Patent No. 1,734,434 of November 5, 1929 and Sapp Patent No. 2,454,214 of November 16, 1948. In both of these patents the sealing strip members are designed broadly as a male and female, the male penetrating the female upon actuation of the outer slide fastener closure structures to effect a seal between the sealing members. In practice, however, where either of these structures or similar structures are bent, twisted or distorted a separation results between the opposed edges of the sealing strips which allows penetration of water or other fluids therethrough and which makes the structure inoperative as a fluid proof seal. This separation of the edges of the sealing strips under distortion has been found to be largely due to their inherent fiexibil- 5 i ity and lack of body or stiffness.

It is of vital importance, and particularly in clothing for aviators, that a closure be evolved which is instantaneously operable with one hand and yet which will provide a completely fluidit tight seal between the edges of garments for long periods of exposure, for example, where the aviator is forced to abandon his plane and to remain in the water for long periods of time.

It is with these ends in mind that the present invention was evolved to provide sealing strip means for closures of this type which would provide a solid and completely fluid tight seal which could not be broken regardless of the amount of twisting or distortion of the closure line.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide improved sealing means for closures of this type in which the seal is unbreakable regardless of twisting or distortion thereof.

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-2051) It is another object of this invention to provide novel and improved sealing strip members whereby this end may be attained.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved connection between the two portions of a slide fastener slidewhich will assist in the maintenance of an improved seal.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a section of a double slide fastener type closure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 2-E! of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved double slide showing novel linking means between the upper and lower slide members;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, partially in section, of one embodiment of the improved sealing strips;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the improved sealing means;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view, partially in section, of another embodiment of the improved sealing means;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional View of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view, partially in section, of the recessed and joined extremities of the sealing strips.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 5, 10 and 11 represent two sections of a piece of waterproof fabric or other material which are designed to be joined together along opposed meeting edges by the improved slide fastener structure and sealing means of the-present invention. Suitably affixed to the lateral edges of material 10 and II as by cementing, stitching or by other appropriate means are sealing strip members I2 and 13 which as shown are made integral with the edges of material I8 and II and extend longitudinally thereof in the form of extended thickened beadings or margins. As shown in Fig. 5, member [2 is preferably in the form of a male strip and is preferably smoothly curved at its outer lateral edge to provide a substantially semi-circular male projection along this edge. Conversely, sealing strip member It is preferably concavely or inwardly curved in a substantially semi-circular manner at its lateral edge IE to receive male edge is in such fashion as to make a complete contact with the entire surface of male edge I4. Sealing 20 are shown appropriately cemented, stitched or otherwise applied over the lateral extremities of material If! and H and extending over 's'eal ing members [2 and [3. Tape l'l is appropriately perforated to allow passagepf'the" head of valve stem 16. Tapes IT, IS, IS and 2llpreferably carry registering teeth or cleats 2|, 22, 23 and 24 of conventional shape at their inner extremities which are designed to be opened and closed by an appropriate double slide member to be described. It will be noted that teeth 2l an'dIZZ are disposed toth'e outside of the line of juncture of sealingmeans 1'2 and i3 and teeth23 and ztai-edispeseaw the inside thereof. It will be noted further that te'ethtl; 22. 254 and '24 are so disposed that when in closed or meshed condition malef edge Id of sealing strip I2 and fei'naleedge [5 of sealing strip it are in firmly wedged and complete contact with each other. As shown'in Fig. 3', the point of contact of sealing strips l2, and i3 is preferably adjacent the base lineof' teeth 22 and 23 Closure of strips Ely-22 and 23-44 is preferably effec'te'd'by'the' double slide member shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, Thisslide member is preferably composed of upper slide portion 2% and lower slide portion 2'!" which are appropri ately joined adjacent their forward extremities by a preferably elliptical link means 23. As shownirl Fig: 3, link 28 is preferablylongitudinally disposed on thepentrallongitudinal axis of the double slide member with its forward edge lying in the'samaplane as the'f'orward edge of the double slide member. A pivoted tab 29 is shownprovidedat the top of the double slide member for actuation thereof.

Another embodiment'of the improved sealing strip and 'slide'fastener structure is shown "in Figs- 6 and 7 of the drawing. In this embodiment'of fithe inventionr nfle sealing strip member 3ll andlfernalej sealing strip member 3| are both shown; to be of hollow construction and are again preferably formed of rubber or other readily expansible material. Asshown in Fig; 6 both male'member 30 and femalefmember 31 are provided with valves and; valve stems'S'Z and 33 fora purposefhereinafterto be discuss edQ Tapes E1 and'flii' are perforated to allow passage of heads if valve stems "32 and 33. As in the embodiment shown 'i'n Figstandfi the lateral edge of male strip 30 is' preferably 'semicircularly curved in a convex fashiohywhile the outer edge" of female strip 3! is preferablyconcavely curved in asimilar and semicircular fashion so that the'two edges will make'a completely joini'ng "contact over all of their surfaces when brought together. Tapes" l1, l8, l9 and and zipper teeth 21, 2'2,23' and 24 are preferably disposed in this embodiment of the invention in the same fashion as they are disposed in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Again; it will be noted that the extremity of male sealing "strip 3e preferably contaets' the inner extremityof female strip 3! at a point adjacent/the base of teeth'22 and 23 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In this embodiment both male sealing strip 34 and female sealing strip 35 are preferably formed hollow and of rubber or other appropriate expansible material. Sealing strips 34 and 35 are preferably provided with valves and valve stems 36 and 31 communicating with their hollow interiors. Tapes l1 and I8 are perforated toallowpassage of "valve stems 35 and 33.

As shown in Fig. 8 the forward or leading edge 38 of male strip 34 is preferably smoothly curved in a substantially elliptical fashion and the conca'v'edge 39 of female strip 35 is also preferably elliptically curved inwardly to make a close and completecontactwith male edge 38 of strip 34. In this-embodiment of the invention the convex surface of male edge 38 of sealing strip 34 is preferably 'slitt'ed longitudinally as shown, to provide a series of preferably six parallel longitudinal strips 40 along the convex edge 33 of male sealing strip 34. As shown, these slits be come progressively deeper from the outer surfaces'of' male edge 38 to its center, the center strips beingof greater width than the outer strips. Convexedge'38 is preferably slitted to a depth approximately equal to the depth of concave face 39 of female sealing strip 35 to assure that its entire slitted extremity will lie withinconcave face 39 of female strip 35.

In this embodiment of the invention, also, the tape and teeth structure IT, 18, 25 and 2|, 22,

24- is the same as that shown-in the embodinent of theinvention disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5, male strip 12 is shown. of hollow construction, while female strip It is shown of solid construction; In this embodiment of the invention, to provide an extremely tight or close fit between maleedge M and concave female edge 15 of sealing strips l2 and 13, after the slide has been appropriately moved to close te'ethZlgZZ, and 23, 24 and after edges [4 and I5 have beenbrought into full bearing contact with each other, a charge of compressed air may b'e' forced intothe hollow interior of male sealing strip I2 through valve and valve stem I5 to expand male-member l2 and its curved lateral edge Mwithin female edge 15 to provide a highly compressedand rigid sealing joint therebetween. The forcing of compressed air into the hollow interior cfsealing strip 82 also expands strip (2 against tapes ll and '20, making strip l2 extremely rigid-to provide a solid and unitary sealing structure-within the tapes and to further solidify the-juncture of sealing strips [2 and I3.

As an'alternative; the interior of strip !2 may be filled with compressed air and sealed at the time of manufacture, to' maintain it under pressure at all times.

In like manne'r,-both male sealing strip 3!! and female sealing strip 35 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be pressurized or inflated by means of compressed air forced through valves and valve stems 32 and 33, respectively. This inflation of strips 30 and 3| is preferably made after the slidehas-been moved to close the upper and lower slide fastener closures and after the convex edge ofsealing strip 30 has been brought into firm and complete contact with the concave edge of sealing strip 3|. As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 this expansion of sealing strips 3i) and 3| greatly increases the rigidity of strips' 3ll and 3| and the pressure between the joining I male and female edges thereof, thus greatly increasing the mechanical strength of the sealing juncture therebetween. With both of the sealing strips inflated a seal joint is formed between them which is completely impervious to twisting or distortion and which is unbreakable. Here, again, both strips 38 and 31 may be originally filled with compressed air and permanently sealed to maintain them under pressure at all times.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 sealing strips 34 and are normally pressurized through valves and 31 after male edge and female edge 39 thereof have been forced into firm and complete contact with each other by actuation of the slide fastener closures. They may, if desired, be permanently pressurized and sealed at the time of manufac ture.

As the leading edge of male strip 36 is longitudinally slitted into longitudinal strips 49, of which there are preferably six, even though certain of strips it may be dislodged or unseated in female edge 39 by twisting or distortion of the closure structure, the balance of strips lll will still remain in close sealing contact with the interior oi female edge 39, providing an impervious seal between male edge 99 and the interior of femal edge under all conditions of distortion.

With respect to the structure of the double slide fastener slide shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing it has been determined that by providing flush elliptical stud 28 joining upper slide 26 and lower slide 21, and by providing complementary semi-elliptical recesses 28 in the opposed side walls of the sealing strips at points adjacent the ends of the male and female portions of the sealing strips, stud 23 will fit into said recesses 28 when slide 2'! is at the extremity of the teeth. This permits the lateral edges of the sealing strips beyond the male and female portions thereof to lie flush against each other and eliminates separation of the strips at this point. Stud recesses 28' are shown in Figs. 1 and 10. As shown in Fig. 10, the sealing strips are preferably joined together, as by vulcanizing, or in any other appropriate fashion at a point adjacent the extremities of cavities 28'.

The thickness of the walls of the sealing strips may be varied depending upon the material used and the sealing problem involved. Further, the walls of the sealing strips may be made to vary in thickness from the outer extremities of the strips to their inner meeting edges, the meeting edges being considerably thinner than the outer edges. The provision of thinner or reduced inner walls in the strips results in a greater expansion of the inner walls than of the outer walls upon pressurization of the sealing strips. This produces an increase of the contact area of the strips and provides a highly impervious seal between the strips.

The novel structure disclosed herein may be used as closure and sealing means on all types of waterproof or gasprcof garments. It may be used to seal containers for liquids or gases or in any place where it is necessary to provide a gas or liquidproof seal between the edges of any type of material.

The curvature of the meeting edges of the sealing strips may be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention, the wide curve, however, being preferable as it brings into contact a maximum area of both the male and female edges of the respective strips.

Conventional one-way air valves as used on tires or in sporting equipment may be used to supply the hollow sealing strips with compressed air, or if desired compressed gas cartridges may be utilized for this purpose. As an alternative, the hollow sealing strips may be filled with compressed air or other gas and sealed at the time of manufacture, to maintain them at all times under pressure. In this embodiment the valve structures shown may be eliminated.

ihe invention is susceptible of numerous embodiments without departing from the spirit thereof. Attention is directed to the appended claims for a limitation of its scope.

What is claimed is:

i. In an improved sealing strip structure for double slide fastener closures for openings, an expansible hollow male strip affixed along one edge of said opening between the lines of teeth, a convex, rounded edge on said male strip, a series of parallel longitudinal slits in said convex edge dividing it into a series of parallel and closely aligned longitudinal segments, a female strip affixed, along the opposite edge of said opening between the opposite lines of teeth, a concave edge on said female strip of the same curvature as the edge of said male strip, whereby said sealing strips form an impervious seal when said teeth are closed and said strips are mated.

2. In an improved sealing strip structure for double slide fastener closures for openings, an expansible hollow male strip afiixed along one edge of said opening, between the lines of teeth, a convex, rounded edge on said male strip, provided with a series of parallel and graduated longitudinal slits dividing it into a series of parallel and contiguous longitudinal segments, a hollow expansible female strip affixed along the opposite edge of said opening between the opposite lines of teeth, a concave edge on said female strip of the same curvature as the edge of said male strip, whereby said sealing strips form an imprevious seal when said teeth are closed and said male and female strips are forced into close contact.

LOUIS ERNEST ELWIN GOSSNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,434 Hutchins Nov. 5, 1929 1,893,420 Lacher Jan, 3, 1933 2,188,815 Murphy Jan. 30, 1940 2,306,990 Essl Dec. 29, 1942 2,321,926 Marinsky et a1 June 15, 1943 2,3d7,583 Vartaredian Apr, 25, 1944- 2,454,214 Sapp Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 807,192 France Of 1936 557,418 Great Britain of 1943 

